Douglas County HFH receives $15K from The Home Depot Foundation in recognition of sustainable buildi
This summer, Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County (HFHDC) completed three homes to the Minnesota Green Communities sustainable building criteria; as a result they were granted $5,000 per project by the Partners in Sustainable Building Program (PSB), a national joint project of The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International.Independent testing through Red Door Energy Auditing found each home so air tight that the total amount of leaks through the entire structure add up to a hole only the size of a donut!
In fact, of the hundreds of Habitat homes in the country funded to date by this national program, these three homes are among the top performers in air-tightness. The results have been reported nationally through the PSB program as an example of the excellent work that Habitat affiliates are capable of.
“We are very proud of our construction volunteers and leaders,” stated Lori Anderson, HFHDC Executive Director. “Their attention to detail and real concern about the efficiency of the homes they are building translates into lower utility costs for our partner families, which means that these families are set up for long term success.”
Beyond being very air-tight, the home also incorporates energy efficient appliances, low-allergen flooring, and low-flow plumbing fixtures; all in addition to a rigorous homeowner education process that includes home maintenance and energy conservation. Habitat homeowners in similar homes have seen an annual utility savings up to $400 over the Minnesota average!
For more information on Habitat’s green building, or to learn more about homeownership, please contact the Habitat office at 320-762-4255. Planning is already underway for the 2012 build season and families are currently being selected for partnership.
About Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County
Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1997 and has built 30 homes for sale to partner families throughout Douglas County, providing housing for 122 people.
Homeowner families are selected according to established criteria: need for housing, ability to partner with Habitat and ability to pay. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build or renovate decent, affordable housing. Partner families purchase the homes from Habitat with no-profit mortgages. Volunteers provide most of the labor. Tax deductible donations of money, land and materials are provided by individuals, organizations, churches, foundations and businesses.
For more information on how to support Habitat or get involved contact the affiliate at 320.762.4255, e-mail at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or the website at http://www.hfhdouglascounty.org